Ditch-cutting machine



2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

N\ m E a man R M .L SMU Mv a Q Q 1 WM 1 H`ll i l W E Q l n s W A N b r ww A\ u, m aa 1Q w\ @m Mm, O, MU mN WN o Nu M zo o V, o w E c o o m mw w A 2 QN Nm o m M NQ f Q\ .N Mm i w@ m mw mm ma Nl Patented Get. 9, 1923.,

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ALBERT w. FULLER,y or pannen, MONTANA.

DITCELUTTING tlIAGE-INE.

Application filed August 24, 1921.Serai'No- 495,037.' Renewed August l2.9, 1923.

To all 7.0/1 omy t may ceac-cra.'

Be it known that l, ALBERT lV. ULLnr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Laurel, in the county ot Yellowstone and State et Montana, have invented certain new and useful lmliirovements in Ditclr. Cutting Machines, ot which the following isl a specification, reference heilig had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to ditch cutting or digging machines, and particularly to niachines designed for cutting relaitvely shallow irrigaiton ditches.

The general object ot' my invention is to provide a machine ot this characterwhich is very simple and which is thoroughly effective for the purpose of planing and grading new irrigation ditches, but whichl may be also used for cleaning old ditches and cutting old ditch banks with a great saving both in time and labor.

A further object is to provide a mechanism` of this character which is adapted to form a complete ditch with one cut of the machine and which may be used either with horses or a tractor. l

And a further object is to provide a imachine of this character so constructed that the depth of the ditch may be regulated.

Other objects will appear in the course ot the following description.

My invention is illustrated in the accom-` panying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a top plan view of the ditch digging machine constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof, showing the supporting wheels raised;

Figure 3 is an under side plan view;

Figure et is a section on the line Ll-t et Figure 1.

Referring to these figures, it will be see y that my machine comprises a triangular body designated generally 10. This body is `Formed ot relatively heavy sheet metal and is Formed to provide a flat upper suit'ace 11 and downwardly extending flanges or sides 12, these sides being preferably about a 'toot in depth. Bra-ces 14: are disposed between these sides to hold them apart and against any strain, the braces having heads insertible into guides 13.

Mounted in bearings upon the upper tace of the body adjacent the rear end thereofis a transverse axle 15 which is cranked at its ends, as at 16, and carriesar wheel 17. This 'over an arcuate toothed rack ytrom the, teeth of the arcuate rack to permit the handle to be oscillated and thus the axle to be oscillated. Forward ot the middle of the machine there is' provided the front axle23 which is also cranked at its ends and carries the iront wheels 24. This is also mounted in suitable bearings on the upper tace -rof. the body and vhas a handle` 25 operating over an arcuate rack26, the handle `being provided with thel same locking means isdisposed on the rear handle. vward end of `the body'is pivotally connected The torto `a tongue ordraw bai' 27 whereby dra'lt may `be applied to the machine to draw it ici-ward, lt will be obvious that by oscillating the axles 15 and 23, the body may be Ielevated as a whole or depressed as a whole,

or that'ftheit'orward or rear ends ot the body mayy be elevated ordepressed independently ott ie :other end. rPhe wheels 24 and 17 are designed to run along the ground on'each side ot the proposed Aditch while the machine cuts the ditch, and the wheels may be adjusted to cutvany depth ot vditch re uired up to limit of the cranked portion to he axles.

l'ilounted upon the forward pointed end of the body 11 is a plow 28 having wings extending rearward on each side of the point of the body, and connected to this plow yand extending upward therefrom areithe mold boards 29 which are deected so as to carry the earth upward and laterally as itis cut out by the plow. Also mounted uponthe iorward'end ot the body is a yoke 3() which is pivoted at its rear end, as at 31, the 'forward end of this yoke being` laterally extended, asv at 32, and rsuppoSting the ictatable cutting disks 33. These disks are ydisposed in a downwardly convergent re- 'la-tion on each side ot the plow Just forward oithe mold board. The yoke passes between connected v rtical members 34- which aretormed ywith transverse apertures V so ,that a'pin -may be inserted to hold the cutters in any yadjusted position.

hlounted upon `the rear end of thefbody are the .two Scrapers 35. The Scrapers entend upward and rearward, as illustrated.

The forward ends of these Scrapers have tongues 36 which are inserted in slots 37 formed .in the sides 12 of the body and are also supported by brackets 38 adjustably bolted to'the upper web of the sheet metal which forms the body of the scraper, these brackets at their outer ends being bolted each to its corresponding scraper. These Scrapers may beset to form a wide brim tothe ditch or a narrow brim therefor, as desired, and as the fashion requires.`

rIhe rear Scrapers 35 are to be adjusted up or down or out or in so as to make' the brim of the ditch wide or high. A wide spread of the scrapers makes a shallow brim, while a narrow spread makes a relatively deep or high brim if the scrapers are raised up. It is not necessary to have thescrapers on while trimming old ditch banks. rI`he mold boards 29 are to elevate the dirtto eachside of the ditch and t-he back scrapers are to be set to gather the loose dirt that the mold board does not get and place this dirt on the brim to form the bank. It is not necessary to use the cutters in loose or soft ground, as these are only to be used in trimming ditch banks or cutting in hard ground. lWhen not in use they are to be taken off. rllhis machine is particularly adapted for cutting irrigation laterals in grain iields and in loose ground. It can be used for other kinds of work as well, if so desired.

lWhile 'the machine is particularly adapted for cutting new irrigation ditches and cleaning out and r-e-cutting old irrigation ditches, it is obvious that it may be used for forming shallow trenches and a large variety of other work. By operating the handles, the body of the machine may be raised oft' the ground or may be depressed below the level of the ground. Preferably the machine will have a seat for the driverso disposed that he may conveniently operate the levers controlling the depth of out.

lllhile I have illustrated details of construction it will be obvious that I do not wish vto be limited thereto, as these may be varied in many ways without departing from the 'spirit of the invention.

I claim 1. A ditching machine of the character described comprising a sharp-pointed, approxiriately triangular body, a pair of transversely extending axles mounted upon the body and having cranked ends, supporting wheels carried upon the vcranked ends of the axles., manually operable means foroscillating 'the axles to raise or lower the body, a plow point mounted'upon the forward end of the body and having upwardly extending mold boards on each side of the body, and cutting disks carried upon the forward end of the body above the rear end of the plow point and forward of the mold boards.

2., A ditching machine of the character described comprising a sharp-pointed, approximately triangular body, a pair of transversely extending axles mounted upon the body and having cranked ends, supporting wheels carried upon the cranked ends of the axles, manually operable means for oscillating the axles to raise or lower the body, a plow point mounted upon the forward end of the body and having upwardly extending mold boards on each side of the body, a yoke swingingly mounted upon the body adjacent its forward end and having laterally projecting members, rotatable cutting disks mounted upon said members and disposed above and in front of the mold boards, and means for vertically adjusting 'the yoke to raise or lower the cutting disks.

8. A ditching machine of the character described comprising an approximately triangular', pointed body formed of sheet metal having downwardly extending sides, braces extending between said sides, a pair of transversely extending axles mounted in bearings upon the upper face of the body and cranked at their ends, supporting wheels carried upon the cranked ends of the axles, manually operable means for oscillating the axles to depress or raise the body, a plow mounted upon the forward end of the body and having mold boards extending upward on' each side of the body, cutting disks adjustably mounted upon the .forward end of the body and disposed above and in advance of the mold boards, and Scrapers adjustably mounted upon the rear end of the vbody and extending upward andv laterally therefrom.

4. A ditching machine of the character described comprising an approxin'iately triangular, pointed body formed of sheet metal having downwardly extending sides, braces extending "between said sides, a pair of transversely extending axles mounted in bearings upon the upper face of the body and cranked at their ends, supporting wheels carried upon the cranked ends of the axles, a plow mounted upon the forward end of the body and having mold boards extending upward on each side of the body, scrapers adjustably mounted upon the rear end of the body and extending upward and laterally therefrom` and manually operable means for oscillating the axles 'comprising a lever mounted upon each axle, an arcuate rack over which the lcv-er moves, and a manually retractable locking` bolt engaging the rack, the lever being mounted for movement from a position with the wheels projected `below the body to a position with the wheels retracted above the bottom of the body.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afx my signature.

ALBERT w. FULLER. 

